Mine sailed through the MOT with the pre-cat removed (at a VW dealer). I did take it for a thrash down the bypass before the MOT to get it hot. The pre-cat aids cold start emissions so if the car is hot when it's MOT'd it should be fine. Sounds like your normal CAT may be at fault Gray
If it failed on lambda readings then it's not the precat at fault, it's either running too rich or lean. If it filed on hydrocarbons or CO then it could be blamed on the precast removal.